Football game

ABSTRACT

A competitive game of skill and chance which simulates the wellknown game of football. The game board simulates a miniature football stadium having a football playing field which includes an XY grid having various indicia assigned to each set of X and Y coordinates or square of the grid. On each play of the game an indicator is movable by the players below the XY grid to illuminate a particular grid square and its corresponding indicia to show the results of the play. A selection device is provided and operated by the players to move the indicator, with one player independently controlling the X position of the indicator under the XY grid and the other player independently controlling the Y position of the indicator under the XY grid. The final position of the indicator is a function of the independent actions of the players, and the indicator is activated to illuminate the selected grid square to show the results of the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;play.

June 4, 1974 United States Patent [191 Moe I FOOTBALL GAME PrimaryExaminer-Richard C. Pinkham [75] Assistant Examiner-Harry G. Strappellol ntor: Walter Moe Huntin t ,L.l., N.Y.

nve g on Atlorne Agent, or FlrmAmster & Rothstem Aurora Products Corp.,West Hemstead, NY.

[73] Assignee:

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PATENTEDJUN 4 I914 SHEET 4 0F 4 1 FOOTBALL GAME In the past, there havebeen numerous attempts to construct an indoor game which is simple tooperate and yet accurately simulates the game of football. Morespecifically, theseindoor games have attempted to reproduce the playsituations and outcomes of an actual football game including the playstrategy employed by the opposing offensive and defensive teams.Typically, the indoor game is played by two players, with one playerrepresenting the offensive team and the other player representing thedefensive team. Each player utilizes his skill to select a play fromvarious offensive and defensive plays which the player thinks is thebest strategy in the existing situation on the playing field. Althoughthese games have substantial play value and are interesting to bothchildren and adults, they have not been completely successful inconstructing a game which allows the offensive and defensive players toconveniently and simply select offensive and defensive plays which maybe quickly coordinated so that the outcome of the game play may bevisually indicated to the players in a quick, simple and reliablemanner.

Accordingly, it is an overall object of the present invention to providea game which is simple to operate, yet accurately simulates the actualgame 'of football and, more particularly, to provide such a game witheasily operable offensive and defensive play selectors which control theposition of a simple and reliable device for visually indicating to theplayers the result of their selected offensive and defensive plays.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an indicating devicewhich is movable with said offensive and defensive play selectors to anyposition on the game's playing field, yet the indicating device may besimply and quickly actuated at any such playing field position toindicate the outcome of the game play.

Briefly. in accordance with the principles of the invention. there isprovided a unique indicating device which visually indicates to theplayers the outcome of a game play and means for activating saidindicating device at any position on the games playing field.

More particularly, the game board simulates a miniature football stadiumhaving a football playing field on the upper surface of the game board.On the underside of the game board there is provided an XY grid whichincludes a plurality of indicating holes or grid squares having variousindicia assigned to each of the grid squares. On each play of the game,the indicating device is movable by the players below the XY grid toilluminate a particular grid square and its corresponding indicia toshow the results of a game play. The indicating device is carriedbyoffensive and defensive play selectors with one player employing theoffensive play selector to independently control the X position of theindicating device under the XY grid and the other player employing thedefensive play selector to independently control the Y position of theindicating device under the XY grid. Accordingly, the final position ofthe indicating device under the XY grid is a function of the independentactions of the players. In addition, a unique switch, which is carriedby the offensive play selector, is operable to activate the indicatingdevice at any position under the XY grid to indicate the results of thegame play.

Further object, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent upon the consideration of the following detaileddescription of the presently preferred embodiment when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the football game of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan thereof;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of one side thereof;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the other side thereof;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of one end thereof; FIG. 6 is anelevational view of the other end thereof;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan'view of the game of the present inventionillustrating the offensive and defensive play selectors and partiallyillustrating the XY grid;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view of the XY grid andthe corresponding indicia;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially along the line 9-9 of FIG. 11 and looking in the directionof the arrows, showing further details of the play selectors and theindicator carried thereby;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantiallyalong the line l0-l0'in FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of thearrows, showing further details of the playing field and the playselectors;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top'plan view, with parts broken away and shownin section, taken substantially along the line 11-11 in FIG. 10 andlooking in the direction of the arrows, showing further details of theplay selectors and the indicator carried thereby.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1,2 and 6, there is shown an illustrative game embodying features of thepresent invention, generally designated by the reference number 10,which includes a rectangular-shaped frame 12 simulating a footballstadium and including a playing field 14. Frame 12 also includes ascoreboard 16 which simulates the actual scoreboard at a footballstadium. More particularly, scoreboard 16 includes scoring dials 16a and16b for indicating the score of the home and visiting teams,respectively, a time clock 16c, a dial 16d for indicating gamequarters'and a dial 16c for indicating downs. As may be seen in FIG. 4,each of the dials of the scoreboard 16 are mounted for rotation on ashaft 18 supported on frame 12 and each of the dials 16a through 16::include suitable indicia thereon in order to accurately simulate anactual stadium scoreboard.

The playing field 14 also includes suitable indicia means, such as asheet of translucent paper 20, printed on both sides. In thisillustrative form of the invention, which is particularly designed forthe play of football, translucent paper 20 is printed on its upper side20a with various markings to simulate an actual football playing field.As may be seen most clearly in FIG. 8, the underside 20b of translucentpaper 20 is also provided with various markings printed thereon for apurpose which will be described below. In addition, playing field 14 isprovided with longitudinal rails 22, 24located along each side ofplaying field 14. In this illustrative form of the invention, ascrimmage marker 26 and a first down marker 28 are slidably mounted onrails 22, 24, respectively. In this manner, at the end of each gameplay, scrimmage marker 26 may be moved along rail 22 to correspond tothe number of yards gained or lost as a result of a particular play ofthe game. Further, the pointers of first down marker 28 extend overyards, from the scrimmage line indicated by scrimmage marker 26 to thefirst down line, to indicate how many yards must be gained by theoffensive team in order to get another first down.

The game of the present invention is played by two players, one playerrepresenting the offensive team and the other player representing thedefensive team. As shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 3, frame 12 isprovided with a slot 12a for the receipt of offense playing cards 30inserted therein by the player on offense. In addition, as may be seenmost clearly in FIG. 5, frame 12 is also provided with a slot 12b forthe receipt of defense playing cards 32 inserted therein by the playeron defense. In this illustrative form of the invention, there are threesets of offensive and defensive playing cards 30, 32. In set No. l,offense playing card 30 is marked Balanced Offense" and contains avariety of plays which may be selected by the player representing theoffensive team, and defense playing card 32 is marked Balanced Defenseand also contains a variety of plays which may beselected by the playerrepresenting the defensive team. Inset No. 2, offense playing card 30 ismarked Strong Run-Weak Pass and defense playing card 32 is similarlymarked. ln set No. 3, of-

fense playing card 30 is marked"Strong Pass-.Weak Run and-defenseplaying card 32 is similarly marked. Thus, by using a variety ofcombinations of offense playing cards 30 and defense playing cards 32,and by selectingfrom the various plays on each playing card, manydifferent kinds of football games may be played. Moreover, it will beappreciated that changing of playing cards 30, 32 during the play of thegame simulates the substitution of players in an actual game offootball. In this manner, the game of the present invention allows theplayers to vary their offenses or defenses in order to find the rightcombination of plays that works best against the opposing team.

Turning now to FIG. 7, there is shown a bottom plan view of the game ofthe present invention. This bottom plan view clearly illustrates theunderside of playing field l4-which is provided with an XY grid network1411 which includes aplurality of grid squares or indicating holes 14bformed in playing field 14 at its X and Y coordinates. As may be seenmost clearly in FIG. 8, each of the indicating holes 14b corresponds toan indicia marking 200 formed on the underside 20b of translu-' cen'tpaper 20, for a purpose which will be described below.

As also shown in FIG. 7, the game of the present invention is providedwith a selection device 40 which includes an offensive play selector 42and a defensive play selector 44 arranged at right angles to each otherand movable below the XY grid network 14a. As shown in FIG. 10,offensive play selector 42 is movable relative to the Xaxis of playingfield 14 in ways 12c, 12d formed-in the sides of frame 12. Further, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, defensive play selector 44 is movable relativeto the Y axis of playing field 14 in ways 12e, 12f. Of course, it willbe apparent that such movements may be reversed so that offensive playselector 42 is movable relative to the Y axis and defensive playselector 44 is movable relative to the X axis. As may be seen in FIG. 2,offensive play selector 42 is provided with a 4 pointer 42a anddefensive play selector 44 is also provided with a pointer 44a, so thatthe offensive and defensive players may point to and select plays markedon offense playing cards 30 and defense playing cards 32, respectively.More particularly, the player on offense slides offensive play selector42 and pointer42a along the X axis to select one of the offensive playson one of the offense playing cards 30 which he has placed in offensiveplaying card receiving slot 12a. At the same time, the player on defenseslides defensive play selector 44 and pointer 44a along the Y axis toselect one of the defensive plays on one of the defense playing cards32.which he has placed in defensive playing card receiving slot 12b.This independent movement of offensive play selector 42 and defensiveplay selector 44 will cause them tointersect at a position unknown toeach of the players. This position is indicated by dotted circle 46 (seeFIG. 7) and has X and Y coordinates which correspond to the X and Ycoordinates of one of the grid squares or indicating holes 14b and theindicia 20c assigned to that indicating hole 14b which indicates theresults or outcome of the play."

The manner-of indicating to the offensive and the defensive players theresults of the -play determined by the movement of offensive playselector 42 and defen-' sive play selector 44, will nowbe explained. Asmay be seen in FIG. 9, an indicator 50 includes a case 50a which isslidably mounted on guides 42b formed on offensive play selector 42. Inaddition, indicator 50 not only moves relative to offensive playselector 42 but moves with play selector 42 when itis actuated by theplayer on offense. Also, as may be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, indicator 50is provided with extensions-50b which extend downwardly between guides44b formed on defensive play selector 44 so that when the player ondefense slides defensiveplay selector 44, extensions 50b will causeindicator 50 to slide relative to offensive play selector 42 on guides42b. V

The indicator 50 of the present invention may include any suitablemeansfor indicating to the players which grid-square or indicating hole14b and corresponding indicia 200 has been selected as aresult of theindependent movements of offensive play selector 42 and defensiveplayselector 44. In this illustrative form of the invention, indicator 50includes a light bulb 52 which illuminates'the selected grid square 14band a portion of translucent paper 20. In this manner, the players mayread from above playing field 14 the indicia marking 200 provided on theunderside 20b of translucent paper 20 which indicates the result of theplay of the game. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, plus and minus signswith various numerals indicate that the play of the game has resulted ina gain or loss of the amount of yardage indicated. In addition, otherindicia 20c are also provided to indicate other types of results in theplay of the game, such as, interceptions, fumbles, incomplete passes,blocks, penalties, touchdowns, etc. as is well known in the actual gameof football.

In order to energize light bulb 52, indicator 50 includes a circuitwhich is mounted in case 50a and includes a suitable supply of power,such as a battery 54, and a spring contact 56 connecting battery 54 andlight bulb 52. As shown in FIG. ll,,spring contact 56 includes a contacthead 56a which is normally biased out of contact with light bulb 52 sothat the energizing circuit is normally open during the play of the gameand movement of offensive and defensive play selectors 42, 44. In orderto make contact between contact head 56a and light bulb 52 and completethe circuit, a switch 58 is provided and is suitably mounted forrotational movement on offensive play selector 42 (see FIG. 9). Switch58 is in the form of an elongated cam having a cam face 58a formedthereon so that when switch S8 is rotated, cam face 58a engages andbiases contact head 56a into contact with light bulb 52 to complete thecircuit and energize light bulb 52. In this manner, light bulb 52 willilluminate the selected grid square or indicating hole 14b formed in XYgrid 14a and thereby illuminate translucent paper so that indiciamarking 20c is visible-and may be read by the players to reveal theoutcome of the play. Further, switch 58 is provided with switchextension 58b which extends through a suitable opening'formed inoffensive play selector 42. Attached to the end of switch extension 58bis a switch knob 58c so that the player on offense may easily rotateswitch extension 58b and switch 58. In this manner, switch 58 isoperable to actuate spring contact 56 and to energize light bulb 52 atany position to which indicator 50 may be moved by selection device 40.

Accordingly, in the play of the game, the player on offense selects oneof the offense playing cards 30, inserts it into card-receiving slot 12aand positions himself adjacent that side of the game. Simultaneously,the player on defense selects one of the defense playing cards 32,inserts it into card-receiving slot 12b and positions himself adjacentthat side of the game. The player on offense then studies the offenseplaying card 30 which he has selected, decides on a particular offensiveplay and moves offensive play selector 42 to line up pointer 42a withthe selected offensive play. Simultaneously, the player on defensestudies the defense playing card 32 which he has selected, decides on aparticular defensive play and moves defensive play selector 44 so thatpointer 44a is lined up with the selected defensive play.

it will be apparent that movement of offensive play selector 42 movesindicator 50 along the X axis of XY grid 14a. More particularly, theends of offensive play selector 42 will move along ways 12c, 12d andcarry indicator 50 therewith with extensions 50b moving in guides 44b ofdefensive play selector 44. It will also be apparent that movement ofdefensive play selector 44 moves indicator 50 along the Y axis of XYgrid 14a.

More particularly, the ends of defensive play selector 44 move alongways 12e, 12f and move indicator therewith by guides 44b engagingextensions 50b formed on indicator 50.

To indicate which indicating hole 14b has been selected by theindependent movements of offensive play selector 42 and defensive playselector 44, the player on offense rotates switch knob 580 so that camface 580 biases contact head 56a into engagement with and energizeslight bulb 52. Light bulb 52 will illuminate the selected indicatinghole 14b so that the corresponding indicia marking 200 on translucentpaper 20 will be visible to the players and thereby show the result ofthe play. Scrimmage marker 26 is then moved according to the number ofyards indicated as gained or lost as a result of the play. The playersthen make the appropriate changes to score board 16 and first downmarker 28 as a result of the play.

It should also be pointed out that playing cards 30, 32 and indiciamarkings 200 have been arranged and computed so that a good offensiveand bad defensive play will result in a gain of yardage, and vice versa.More particularly, the game of the present invention takes into accountthe probability of successfully executing the offensive play selected bythe player on offense, and the effectiveness of the defensive playselected by the player on defense in stopping the selected offensiveplay. The more the defense is fooled by the offense, the greater will bethe yardage gained by the offensive team. However, if the player ondefense comes close to predicting the offensive play which the player onoffense has selected and selects an appropriate defensive play, theoutcome of the play will result in a yardage loss for the offensiveteam, or an interception, fumble, etc.

Accordingly, it will be apparent that the play of the game depends onthe skill of the players as well as on chance. More particularly, eachplayer utilizes his skill in selecting a particular offensive ordefensive play to best combat what he thinks his opponents strategy is.Moreover, if a player finds that a particular strategy is not working,the player may further utilize his skill to change his tactics andselect an offensive or defensive playing card which would improve hisgame strategy against his opponent. The element of chance is alsoprovided for in the play of the game as the offensive or defensive playselected by each of the players remains undisclosed to his opponentuntil the latter has also selected an offensive or defensive play. Moreparticularly, the player on offense independently moves offensive playselector 42 to control the X position of indicator 50 and the player ondefense independently moves defensive play selector 44 to control the Yposition of indicator 50. Accordingly, the final position of indicator50 is a function of the independent actions of the offensive anddefensive players. In this manner, as each player does not know whichplay his opponent has selected and its coordinate with respect to theplaying field, there is also provided an element of chance in the playof the game.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that there hasbeen provided in accordance with the game of the present invention, asimple device for selecting offensive and defensive plays which isindependently operable by each of the players to quickly and easily movethe play indicator with respect to the playing field. Further, theindicator includes a unique lamp 'and switch assembly with the switchbeing operable to activate the indicator lampat any position on theplaying field to indicate the results of a game play.

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, any of a widevariety of games may be played with the selection device 40 andindicator 50 of the present invention to determine the play of the game.ln addition, the invention may be used in other specific forms or gameswithout departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Thepresent embodiments are, therefore, to be considered as illustrative andnot restrictive,

the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims fensive plays.

movable relative to said playing field for indicating the results of agame play, means for independently selecting an offensive play andoperatively connected to said indicating means for simultaneously movingsaid indicating means to an X coordinate on the X axis of said playingfield, means for independently selecting a defensive play and alsooperatively connected to said indicating means for simultaneously movingsaid indicating means to a Y coordinate on the Y axis of said playingfield and means for activating said indicating means at said X and Ycoordinates in order to indicate the results of said independentlyselected offensive and de- 2. A game according to claim 1 wherein saidindicating means is supported on said offensive play selecting means andis movable therewith and wherein said defensive play selecting means isoperable to move said indicating means relative to said offensive playselecting means.

3. A game according to claim 2 wherein said playing field includesindicia at a plurality of said X and Y co- I ordinates.

' means being movable relative to said switch.

7. A game according to claim 6 wherein said illuminating means includesa lamp andmeans for making electrical contact with said lamp, saidcontact means being normally out of engagement with said lamp and saidswitch being operable to bias said contact means into engagement withsaid lamp.

8. A game of chance and skill comprising means defining a playing field,indicia means below said playing field and arranged to form an XY gridhaving X and Y coordinates, an indicator being movable with respect tosaid XY grid to select one of said indicia means, means for controllingthe X coordinate of said indicator with respect to said XY grid, meansfor controlling the Y coordinate of said indicator with respect to saidXY grid, and means for actuating said indicator at said X and Ycoordinates of said XY grid to disclose the selected one of said indiciameans. I

9. A game according to claim 8 wherein said actuating means includes aswitch mounted on said X coordinate controlling means and is movabletherewith and is operable to actuate said indicator at said X and Ycoordinates of said XY grid.

10. A game according to claim 9 wherein said indicator includes a lampand a spring contact and said switch is operable to bias said springcontact into engagement with said lamp.

11. A game for competitive playing between an offensive player and adefensive player comprising means defining a playingfield having X and Yaxes, said playing field-including a translucent sheethaving a pluralityof indicia arranged at respective X and Y coordinates on said X and Yaxes, means movable below said playing field for illuminating saidtranslucent sheet and one of said indicia, means for independentlyselecting an selected offensive and defensive plays.

1. A game for competitive playing between an offensive player and adefensive player comprising means defining a playing field having X andY axes, means movable relative to said playing field for indicating theresults of a game play, means for independently selecting an offensiveplay and operatively connected to said indicating means forsimultaneously moving said indicating means to an X coordinate on the Xaxis of said playing field, means for independently selecting adefensive play and also operatively connected to said indicating meansfor simultaneously moving said indicating means to a Y coordinate on theY axis of said playing field and means for activating said indicatingmeans at said X and Y coordinates in order to indicate the results ofsaid independently selected offensive and defensive plays.
 2. A gameacCording to claim 1 wherein said indicating means is supported on saidoffensive play selecting means and is movable therewith and wherein saiddefensive play selecting means is operable to move said indicating meansrelative to said offensive play selecting means.
 3. A game according toclaim 2 wherein said playing field includes indicia at a plurality ofsaid X and Y coordinates.
 4. A game according to claim 3 wherein saidindicating means includes means for illuminating the indicia on saidplaying field.
 5. A game according to claim 4 wherein said activatingmeans is supported on said offensive play selecting means and is movabletherewith and is operable to activate said illuminating means at said Xand Y coordinates of said playing field.
 6. A game according to claim 5wherein said activating means includes a switch rotatably mounted onsaid offensive play selecting means and said indicating means beingmovable relative to said switch.
 7. A game according to claim 6 whereinsaid illuminating means includes a lamp and means for making electricalcontact with said lamp, said contact means being normally out ofengagement with said lamp and said switch being operable to bias saidcontact means into engagement with said lamp.
 8. A game of chance andskill comprising means defining a playing field, indicia means belowsaid playing field and arranged to form an XY grid having X and Ycoordinates, an indicator being movable with respect to said XY grid toselect one of said indicia means, means for controlling the X coordinateof said indicator with respect to said XY grid, means for controllingthe Y coordinate of said indicator with respect to said XY grid, andmeans for actuating said indicator at said X and Y coordinates of saidXY grid to disclose the selected one of said indicia means.
 9. A gameaccording to claim 8 wherein said actuating means includes a switchmounted on said X coordinate controlling means and is movable therewithand is operable to actuate said indicator at said X and Y coordinates ofsaid XY grid.
 10. A game according to claim 9 wherein said indicatorincludes a lamp and a spring contact and said switch is operable to biassaid spring contact into engagement with said lamp.
 11. A game forcompetitive playing between an offensive player and a defensive playercomprising means defining a playing field having X and Y axes, saidplaying field including a translucent sheet having a plurality ofindicia arranged at respective X and Y coordinates on said X and Y axes,means movable below said playing field for illuminating said translucentsheet and one of said indicia, means for independently selecting anoffensive play and simultaneously carrying said illuminating means to anX coordinate on the X axis of said playing field, means forindependently selecting a defensive play and simultaneously moving saidilluminating means to a Y coordinate on the Y axis of said playingfield, and a switch for activating said illuminating means at said X andY coordinates to illuminate one of said indicia to indicate the resultof said independently selected offensive and defensive plays.